Intel Pulls Ads Under Pressure From Angry Antifeminist GamersOctober 06, 2014
Intel confirmed that it pulled its advertising from a gaming website and community hub after it received feedback from its customers. Intel takes customer feedback very seriously when it relates to contextually relevant content and placements, the company reportedly said. However, the fact that Intel pulled its ads from Gamasutra is just one part of a story that involved a coordinated campaign.

How Gamification Will Rise From the Trough of DisillusionmentOctober 02, 2014
Gartner's Hype Cycle Report, which looks at new technologies as they make their way through the inevitable gauntlet of media hype, is now in its 20th year. The various stages are aptly named, and many tech observers are painfully familiar with the early ones. The hype cycle starts with innovation, rapidly moves into the peak of inflated expectation, and then sinks in the trough of disillusionment.

Google's Augmented Reality 'Ingress' Gives Players New Creative OutletsOctober 01, 2014
Google's Niantic Labs last week announced a new Missions feature that can incorporate user-generated content in its Ingress augmented reality game. Now available to Android users, Missions challenges players to visit a series of places, complete a game action such as hacking or capturing a portal, or use clues to solve a puzzle in order to advance, said Niantic Labs head John Hanke.

Gadget Ogling: Smart Wine, Wooly Sound and a Clever Light BulbSeptember 27, 2014
I give LG a little flak for constantly releasing new smartphones, but here's one with a twist. LG is pegging the Wine Smart as its first flip-style smartphone. Yes, the compact style is back, only this time its fuel is Android, instead of whatever arcane OS manufacturers might dream up. I suspect this is more about style than function, outside of a dedicated button for opening an IM app.

Sony's PlayStation TV Could Be a Busy Little GadgetSeptember 22, 2014
Sony Computer Entertainment on Monday confirmed that nearly 700 games will be available for its PlayStation TV system when it launches in North America on Oct. 14. They will include popular and classic franchises such as Killzone: Mercenary, Final Fantasy, Twisted Metal and Metal Gear Solid. The PS TV is a non-portable variant of the PlayStation Vita.

Nintendo Blows Some Minds With Hyrule WarriorsSeptember 17, 2014
Nintendo's Hyrule Warriors, which was released in Japan last month and will arrive in North America on Sept. 26, is a very different kind of game. Nintendo called in help from two outside studios: Team Ninja; and Omega Force, the creators of Dynasty Warriors. The result is a game that looks a lot like The Legend of Zelda but doesn't play like it at all.

Destiny Teams Race to Vault of Glass Finish LineSeptember 16, 2014
Bungie's second special Destiny event, dubbed "Vault of Glass," went live early Tuesday. Bungie calls it "the most elaborate mission" it has ever created. Only gamers who have reached Level 26 will qualify. Attempts to complete the Raid are being streamed live on Twitch. After months of hype and anticipation, Destiny, the latest video game from Bungie, finally arrived last week.

Minecraft May Help Microsoft Build Its Mobile StrategySeptember 15, 2014
Microsoft on Monday announced it has agreed to acquire Mojang, the software developer that created the popular Minecraft video game. Although it's subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory review, the deal is expected to be finalized by the end of this year. Microsoft will pay $2.5 billion for Mojang and gain full control of the iconic Minecraft franchise.

Will Ferrell Calls On Gamers to Launch Cancer AssaultSeptember 10, 2014
Comedian Will Ferrell on Wednesday announced an effort to battle cancer by giving gamers a chance to participate in a two-hour gaming event with him. The Indiegogo initiative aims to raise $375,000 for nonprofit organizations Cancer for College and DonateGames, by asking gamers to contribute at least $10. One randomly selected giver will win the opportunity to play games with Ferrell on Oct. 26.

Leap Motion Gets Your Hands in the GameSeptember 02, 2014
Leap Motion last week announced a virtual reality headset developer mount for Oculus Rift and a new API that together will take the VR game to new heights. The API feeds raw infrared imagery straight from Leap's sensors to the controller on the headset, giving users a real time view of the environment. The API expands the tracking space to any direction the user is facing.

Amazon Pulls a Twitch on GoogleAugust 25, 2014
Amazon has inked a deal to acquire Twitch Interactive, a real-time video platform for gamers. Prior to the disclosure, rumors had been building that it was on track to snatch Twitch from Google, which reportedly had been very close to buying it. The pending acquisition was rumored to be for upwards of $1 billion. However, Amazon said it was buying the company for $970 million cash.

SparkyLinux GameOver Is a Winning Work-Play ComboAugust 20, 2014
The SparkyLinux GameOver 3.4 Edition may be one of the best Linux distros catering to game players you will find. It is a full-service specialty Linux OS with a focus on gaming. Linux distro developers usually do one of two things about games. One, they provide none or only a few low-impact card and puzzle titles. Two, they build in links to the PlayOnLinux and Steam websites.

PlayStation Now Hints at Bright Game-Streaming FutureJuly 31, 2014
Sony's PlayStation Now has entered open beta, making it available for the first time to all PlayStation 4 owners in the U.S. and Canada. The game-streaming service had been in a private beta period since January. PS4 users now can choose from more than 100 titles for rental periods from four hours to 90 days. Pricing ranges from $2.99 to $19.99, with a $1.99 option coming in a few weeks.

Google May Give YouTube a SiblingJuly 25, 2014
Google apparently is adding another prominent streaming video service to nestle alongside YouTube in its stable. It reportedly has acquired Twitch for around $1 billion. When the deal will be announced and the official purchase price are not yet clear, though Twitch investors are said to be pleased with their return. Twitch allows gamers to stream their gameplay and commentary to others.

Linux Gaming: If You Build It, Will They Come?July 25, 2014
For long-suffering Linux users who have endured the dearth of high-quality action games on their open source desktops, the wait for better game developer support soon may be over. New technology is making Linux more attractive to game makers. Until now, game makers have relied primarily on Windows PCs and gaming consoles powered by proprietary alternatives to the Linux OS.

Nvidia's Shield Tablet Earns Praise for Hardware, Shrugs for GamesJuly 22, 2014
Nvidia is expanding its Shield line of gaming products with the launch of a gaming tablet and accompanying wireless controller. Designed for high performance, the tablet is powered by Nvidia's Tegra K1 processor, which includes 192 graphics processing unit cores. It will be frequently updated with software updates designed to draw stronger performance and additional capabilities from the hardware.

Super Smash Bros. Packs In 3 More FightersJuly 14, 2014
Blockbuster fighting game series Super Smash Bros. is expanding its ranks with the addition of three new characters. The fourth title in the series will continue the tradition of pitting characters from a string of Nintendo franchises against each other. The latest to join the cast are Lucina and Robin from Fire Emblem: Awakening and Captain Falcon of F-Zero fame.

Augmented Reality Future: How to Train Your Dragons on VacationJuly 14, 2014
Microsoft just announced the release of the Dragons Adventure World Explorer. It is actually very cool and well-timed, because it should keep little tykes engaged and quiet during a long car trip. It also should get developers excited about creating more games that could turn the family vacation experience into a bloodbath of adventure for boys and a 4H-like experience for girls, but with dragons!

Amazon Risks Customer Loyalty in Fight Over Kids' In-App PurchasesJuly 11, 2014
Amazon's reputation for stellar customer service could become tarnished if its current flap with the FTC gets out of hand. The FTC is suing Amazon for permitting children to make millions of dollars in unauthorized purchases through its Appstore. Similar accusations have been circulating for years. Other companies, including Apple, have been targeted, said Strategic Vision CEO David Johnson.

FTC Goes After Amazon for Fleecing KidsJuly 11, 2014
The FTC has filed suit against Amazon over billing kids for unauthorized in-app purchases that in many cases they did not know they had made. The suit accuses Amazon of violating Section 5(a) of the FTC Act, which prohibits unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce. The FTC is seeking a court order requiring Amazon to refund victims for the unauthorized charges.

Nadella Spells Out Microsoft's Bold AmbitionsJuly 10, 2014
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on Thursday mapped out his vision for the company's future, emphasizing cloud and mobile computing, in a letter to all employees. "More recently, we have described ourselves as a 'devices and services' company. While the devices and services description was helpful in starting our transformation, we now need to hone in on our unique strategy," Nadella wrote.

The Big Winners at Google I/O 2014June 30, 2014
At last week's Google I/O, Nvidia was the big winner. It was showcased in TVs, mobile devices and automotive as the supplier of a key technology. Other brands were mentioned in the keynote, but it was Nvidia that was mentioned most consistently -- and its technology apparently was connected to most of the demos. Though it was mentioned only in passing, Lenovo actually was the other big winner.

Lego Fuses Physical and Virtual GameplayJune 19, 2014
Lego fans are about to experience a new way to play with their favorite plastic bricks, both in the physical and virtual worlds. The company's line of Fusion playsets will become available in August. The sets combine traditional brick construction play with video games. The goal is to allow people -- especially children -- to engage with Legos both physically and virtually.